For those who know me, know I am a big fan of Chicago. I have to say, after this play, I am an even bigger fan. Brandon Marshall, of the Chicago Bear’s, supported Mental Health Awareness Week by playing in green cleats. Despite the NFL’s possibilities of fines, Marshall stated he will match the fines and make a donation to cancer research. He is supporting both Mental Health Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness. What a quality guy!

As I was doing research on Eating Disorders, I came across a site that stated there are over 8 million people in the United States with an Eating Disorder. I was shocked to hear such a huge number. I understand that 1 out of 4 people have some form of an eating disorder from binging, over eating, to restricting, etc… However 8 million!!! To put it into perspective 8 million is equivalent to:

2 million more people than of the Jewish population killed in the Holocaust.

When looking at a tree, a typical person may not look too deep into it. Like the age of the tree, what might have occurred there, the memories it made for others, the reasons for the cracks in the trunk, the lifted roots… there is so much more beyond the tree.

A tree can signify life, birth and whatever else you make of it. It can be a place of peace and calmness, a place to create memories, or a place of mourning. Looking at nature typically allows people to be free.

I love using art as a way of therapy, especially when working with children. Trees are interesting to analyze because it relates to the artist from every perspective from the age to the details created. The trunk may signify the age where different movement represent ages in which significant events may have occurred. Every time I analyze a drawing, the client is amazed (and so am I) at the accuracy noted.